Aluminum Foil-Sealing Hygiene Bottle Cap

ABSTRACT

This patent design is involved in leakage-proof sealing design for a plastic bottle cap, which works with water dispenser.
     Technique issue: It focuses on designs of an interior water outlet lid at leakage-proof and on design of a pliably wedged sealing ring in the cap. The patent design aims at eradicating phenomena that an interior water outlet lid drops in water to create secondary pollution and rescinding use of a leakage-proof foaming gasket in the cap.   Embodiment: 1. Employ a kind of non-toxic, odorless, and food grade aluminum foil lid to seal the interior water outlet in a cap. 2. Add a fixed pliably wedged ring onto interior sidewall of a cap to replace a mobile polyethylene foaming gasket.   Effects: The patent cap design possesses simple structure, hygiene, and strong sealability. It can eradicate leak from plastic interior lid, rescind foaming gasket use, reduce cost and avoid secondary pollution to bottled water.

SUBORDINATE TECHNIQUE FIELD

The utility model is involved in leakage-proof design of a plastic bottle cap, which works with water dispenser. Especially in cap designs of sealing, anti-pollution, and hygiene, it focuses on sealing functions about an interior water outlet lid and on design of an airtight wedge-angled ring, which fixed onto interior sidewall of a bottle cap.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The utility model is accomplished independently by myself only without any other joint parties and without any federally sponsors.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The utility model is an original design on leakage-proof sealing about interior water outlet in a plastic cap which works with a water dispenser. It is a modified or improved design basis on my own China patent- Aluminum Foil-Sealing Hygiene Bottle Cap (The China utility model patent no. ZL 2010 2 0700109.3 issued by China Intellectual Property Bureau; Application date: Dec. 27, 2010; Authority publication date: Nov. 30, 2011; Inventor/ Patentee /Applicant: Xiping GUO), but rather any other universal cap worked with a water dispenser. The same design file and claims are filed and mail signed by Canada Intellectual Property Office on May 30, 2013. (Application No. 2817980, Filling Date: 2013, May 30)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, for most interior water outlet lids in bottle caps that are used at water dispensers their lids material is made of Lower-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), which is the same as principal cap body material. At airtight designs, there are three major categories: interior plug type (ref. see U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,125), exterior cover type (ref. see US patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,939), and body-connected type. (ref. see U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,904B1) The design feature is at seal of an interior water outlet (remark 16 of FIG. 7) to avoid water spilling when a bottle is upside down inserted into a water dispenser.

The body-connected type design is mainly divided into three types: “Q”-bunting type (ref. China patent CN3012997365 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,904), “+”-bunting type (ref. China patent CN3050914), and “

”-bunting type (ref. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,047). Their interior water outlet lids are all connected with principal cap bodies, thus, they are named body-connected design. Mold design and manufacture for the body-connected interior water outlet lid need highly precise criteria. The principal cap plastic material meets higher quality standard as well. This is because slots of the lid, such as “Q”-type, “+”-type, or “

”-type, must be even and thin, but never be rimous. The slot depth directly influences interior lid opening when water input cylinder (remark 14 of FIG. 5) heavily bunts the interior lid. It causes three possible bad cases: on one case, the interior lid is bunted but hardly to be opened; on the second case, bad quality slot leads to water leakage before it is bunted; on the third case, an interior lid is jabbed and split into several fragments, floated in water.

For the interior plug type or exterior cover type, the principal cap designs hardly guarantee the interior lid to cover the water input cylinder and never float in water when the cylinder heavily bunts the lid. Thus, the floated lid creates secondary pollution in the bottled water.

Except for the leakage of interior water outlet lid, combination area between cap interior ceiling and top of bottle mouth could not be closely touched and could create leakage due to mismatch of different bottle mouths and caps. Most cap manufacturers insert a mobile polyethylene foaming gasket (MPFG) into the cap interior ceiling to block leakage for bottle-filling producers. However, cap manufacturers will not produce these MPFGs owing to smaller gasket demand and higher equipment investment, but prefer purchase of MPFGs to professional MPFG producers. On the other hand, these outsourcing of MPFGs are assembled in caps by machines or hands without sterilizing in advance. Those MPFGs could bring foreign matters or bacteria and create secondary pollution during the procedures of MPFG production, transportation, storage, and assembly. Although some of water filling equipment could have a cap sterilizer, but MPFG interior part hardly to be cleaned up and sterilized. Thus, the cap seal and hygiene cannot be guaranteed. For another fixed foaming ring design, its production technics are complex and with higher making cost although the ring is good for sealing and free from secondary pollution.

INVENTION IDEA

To solve possible leak, secondary pollution, and high cost gasket problems derived from a cap interior water outlet leakage, interior lid drop, and foaming gasket assembly, I designed a set of brand-new solution to eradicate mentioned issues above. That is an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap. In this cap, I employ an aluminum foil to replace a conventional plastic interior water outlet lid, extra add an LDPE pliably wedged ring to fix onto interior sidewall of a bottle cap to form a leakage-proof dam, and rescind a foaming gasket/ring use.

FULL DESCRIPTION Summary of the Invention

Use a piece of food-grade aluminum foil as an interior water outlet lid in a principal cap (remark 1 of FIG. 1). In top area of the interior water outlet, it composes two sections, a glossy area and a tiny teeth area (remark 11 and remark 12 of FIG. 3). When a water input cylinder (remark 14 of FIG. 5) jabs the aluminum foil lid, the aluminum foil causes a conglutination firmness difference between these two areas-a glossy area and a tiny teeth area, on the top of water input mouth under the circumstance of an electromagnetic inductor work. When the water input cylinder jabs the aluminum foil lid, the tiny teeth area firstly detaches from the foil, but the glossy area clings the foil to avoid the foil dropping off and floating in water. Besides, by a double-color injection process I extra adds a LDPE fixed pliably wedged ring (FPWR) (remark 2 and remark 20 of FIG. 5) onto interior sidewall of a cap to construct a leakage-proof dam.

Common Technique Features Between this Invention and the Latest Technology in the World

They all focus on sealing method for an interior water outlet lid and leakage-proof design for different bottle mouths. However, my brand-new invention designs effectively block leakage and avoid secondary pollution in bottled water.

The Most Different Features Between this Invention and the Latest Technology

They are all at sealing manners as well. My invention completely changes sealing method on a water outlet lid. by using a piece of aluminum foil to replace any other plastic water outlet lid in a principal cap; I extra add a LDPE FPWR which forms a 15° angle with an interior sidewall of the cap via double-color injection machine to rescind a mobile polyethylene foaming gasket or a fixed foaming ring. This invention possesses some good features, such as simple construction, non-pollution production, and all-in-one production process. It completely eradicates lid leakage, broken pieces, bacteria, and foreign matters and avoids secondary pollution in bottled water.

FIGURE DESCRIPTIONS

Further descriptions on bases of the attached figures and embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is top view of interior design of an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 2 is top view of exterior design of an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 3 is top view of interior water outlet top area design in an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 4 is partial view of an interior water outlet design of an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view that a water input cylinder was inserted into a cap and bunted the aluminum foil.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view that a water input cylinder jabbed aluminum foil.

FIG. 7 is a leakage-proof dam effect sketch about a fixed pliably wedged ring touched a bottle mouth in an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 8 is an exterior perspective of a fixed pliably wedged ring, a fastening ring, and a reinforcement ring in an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a double-sealing effect sketch—a hot-pressing label and an aluminum foil in an aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

Figure remarks: 1. aluminum foil lid; 2. fixed pliably wedged ring; 3. reinforcement ring; 4. stop point of tearing slot; 5. tearing tail slot; 6. exterior friction teeth; 7. tearing tail; 8. annular tearing slot; 9. bottle mouth fastening ring; 10. hot-pressing label; 11. glossy area; 12. tiny teeth area; 13. interior water outlet top area; 14. water input cylinder; 15. exterior water outlet; 16. interior water outlet; 17. ring height 3 mm; 18. cross section of reinforcement ring for bottle mouth; 19. cross section of fastening ring for bottle mouth; 20. cross section of fixed pliably wedged ring; 21. a 15° included angle between a fixed pliably wedged ring and interior sidewall of a cap; 22. cross section of a bottle mouth that was inserted into a cap.

In FIG. 1, sealed aluminum foil lid (remark 1) is sucked and covered onto the interior water outlet (remark 16 of FIG. 7) of a cap by a mechanical suction nozzle. When caps move and pass an electromagnetic inductor via a conveyor, the aluminum foil lids are integrated with interior water outlet top and fulfilled airtight effect. A FPWR (remark 2) is fixed onto junction interior wall between ceiling wall and side wall in a cap. After fingers press tearing tail (remark 7) and move it forward to left-up direction along a tearing tail slot (remark 5) and an annular tearing slot (remark 8), it rives the cap. Interior and exterior friction teeth (remark 6) can prevent fingers from slickness. After tearing tail moved till a stop point of tearing slot (remark 4), the cap is no longer to be rived. Thereafter, the cap can be easily pulled away from bottle mouth when you tear forward up further. A FPWR (remark 2), a bottle mouth fastening ring (remark 9), and a reinforcement ring (remark 3) on interior sidewall of a cap tightly hold the bottle mouth and work together with a 15° included angle formed between the FPWR and interior sidewall of a cap to form a leakage-proof dam (remark 2, 20, 21 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7). It entirely replaces a leakage-proof foaming ring function and completely eradicate cap leakage problem.

In FIG. 2, in final production process, a hot-press label (remark 10) is pressed to top of a cap, sealing exterior water outlet (remark 15 of FIG. 6).

In FIG. 3, on top area of the interior water outlet, there are two specially designed areas (remark 11 and remark 12): a glossy area and a tiny teeth area. They create a difference on conglutination firmness when an aluminum foil is conglutinated an interior water outlet of a cap.

In FIG. 4, on top area of the interior water outlet, there is a conglutination area that coheres with an aluminum foil.

In FIG. 5, it is schematic position in a glossy area that a water input cylinder (remark 14) is inserted into a cap and bunted sealed aluminum foil (remark 1 of FIG. 1). Cap interior sidewall, a 15° included angle between a FPWR and cap interior sidewall, and a FPWR form a leakage-proof dam (remark 2, 20, and 21 of FIG. 5). Remark 19 is a cross section of fastening ring for the bottle mouth. Remark 20 is a cross section of fixed pliably wedged ring.

In FIG. 6, it is the position that an aluminum foil (remark 1) connected the interior water outlet and did not drop in water after water input cylinder (remark 14) jabbed a sealed aluminum foil. Due to the design difference between a glossy area and tiny teeth area, it forms a difference of aluminum foil conglutination firmness. The aluminum foil never drops off and never floats in water after it was jabbed by a strong power.

In FIG. 7 the FPWR and cap interior sidewall form a leakage-proof dam after a bottle was inserted into a cap. It is a design sketch that a bottle mouth fastening ring (remark 9) firmly locks a bottle mouth (remark 22) together with a reinforcement ring (remark 3).

FIG. 8 is a perspective that a cap has a fixed pliably wedged ring, a fastening ring, and a reinforcement ring in the aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap.

FIG. 9 is an effective diagram that a hot-pressing label was torn.

Specific Performance Method

In FIG. 1, it is a performance that an aluminum foil completely seals an interior water outlet in a cap.

Add a procedure in a cap production process: in the interior water outlet (remark 16 of FIG. 7), a group of mechanical suction nozzles suck aluminum foil lids which with a paperboard and cover them onto interior water outlets of caps. When those aluminum foil lids pass an electromagnetic inductor via a conveyor, the inductor integrates the aluminum foil with the top area of interior water outlet without touching the foil lids, accomplished an airtight effect (remark 1). But the aluminum foil will automatically separate from its paperboard along with the mechanical suction nozzle suck the paperboard again.

Possible Technique Problem

When the sealed aluminum foil perfectly conglutinated top area of the interior water outlet in a cap, whether it could be easily jabbed by a water input cylinder and whether jabbed foil could drop in water. (See FIG. 6)

Solutions

Design two different areas on the top of an interior water outlet. On one smaller area, which occupies about one-fifth (⅕) area of the top of an interior water outlet, its surface ought to be processed more glossy (remark 11 of FIG. 3). On another larger area, which has about four-fifth (⅘) of the top of an interior water outlet, its top surface should be processed to become an area with many tiny teeth (remark 12 of FIG. 3). In the glossy area, an aluminum foil tightly and evenly conglutinates the top area of the interior water outlet (remark 1 of FIG. 6), but in uneven area, top unit adhesion area that an aluminum foil integrates with the interior water outlet is reduced, formed an adhesive strength difference in term of unit area. In a moment that a water input cylinder bunted the aluminum foil, the tiny teeth area surface early separates from the top of the interior water outlet of a cap. Meanwhile, the foil sticks the glossy area due to this conglutination firmness difference when the cylinder jabbed the aluminum foil. Thus, it avoids the foil floating in water. (See FIG. 6)

Description of Implementation that a Fpwr Fixes onto Interior Sidewall of a Cap

After a mold injection process of a cap body, make a secondary injection for the FPWR by adding LDPE 7144 material. The formed FPWR becomes a pliable body. Besides, secondary injection mold design should create a 15° angle between the wedged ring and interior sidewall of a cap (remark 21 of FIG. 5). Due to in existence of this angle, the FPWR possesses a leakage-proof dam function after it bunted the top of a bottle mouth. Whatever design differences does any bottle mouths have, this FPWR design perfectly dams top of bottle mouth by this design-angled. Coupled with a fastening ring (remark 9 of FIG. 7) and a reinforcement ring (remark 3 of FIG. 7) firmly lock the bottle mouth to completely eliminate the possibility of leakage (see FIG. 7).

At the end of production procedure, a label is sealed on the exterior water outlet of a cap by an automatically hot-pressing labeler (remark 10 of FIG. 9). Hereto, entire cap production procedure has been automatically accomplished in a production line, exempted secondary pollution between an aluminum foil and a hot-press label.

This invention design has changed traditional water outlet plastic lid designs into an aluminum foil lid design, rescinded a traditionally mobile foaming gasket design, and created a fixed pliably wedged ring design.

This invention design deletes two production procedures about inner lid injection and assembly for an interior water outlet and a mobile foaming gasket in conventional cap production techniques; relevantly adds two production procedures about aluminum foil sealing and secondary injection of a fixed pliably wedged ring. Although new cap design production procedures are equivalent with traditional ones, but new cap design is more economic, safe, aesthetic, and reliable than other traditional designs. Sealing and hygiene are completely guaranteed. 

The embodiment of this invention in which an exclusively claimed property or privilege is defined as follows:
 1. An aluminum foil-sealing hygiene bottle cap and its interior water outlet lid are adopted by a piece of food-grade aluminum foil.
 2. A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, in which the top area of its interior water outlet is divided into two different surface areas: a smaller glossy area that occupies about one-fifth (⅕) of the top area in the water outlet; and a larger tiny teeth area that occupies about four-fifth (⅘) of the top area in the water outlet. 3a. A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, in which the interior sidewall design of a cap, extra added a fixed pliably wedged ring to rescind any other foaming annular gaskets. 3b. A bottle cap as defined in claim 1 and claim 3a, the fixed pliably wedged ring composes an included angle with the interior sidewall of a cap where the wedge-angled ring possesses a leakage-proof dam function. 